Automatic screen chute



(No Model.)

B. KEPNER.

AUTOMATIC SCREEN GHUTE, GATE, GOAL BIN, &c. No. 325,843. Patented Sept.1 1885.

Nv PETERS, Phok Lrlhngnphun walking, 04 c UNITED Srnrns Parana Unison.

BENJAMIN KIEPNER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC SCREEN CHUTE, GATE, COAL=BlN, 84.0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,343, datedSeptember 1, 1885.

(No model.)

To aZZ 1072,0112, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN Knrnnn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful improvements inautomatic screen chutes and gates, and double-in cline-plane-bottomedcoal bins or pockets, and dust-box and screen attachments; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawlugs, and to the letters and figures of referencemarked thercon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in coal-chutes; and it consistsin the combination and a wrzni'geineht oi the several parts hereinafterdcscribechand pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan YIGW of a coal-bin constructedaccording to my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fi 3is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. at is a detail view.

In the accompanying drawings, A: is the bin, pocket, or receptacle, ofrectangular or any other desired shape, with inclined planes B B,forming the bottom and pitching from the center or apex C downward. Ihave shown in the drawings only two inclines B 5 but it will beunderstood that the bottom of the bin or pocket could be made in theshape of a pyramid having'four inclines, in which case I could use fourchutes and screens of pattern hereinafter described.

At the lower end of each inclined plane a discharge-opening, D, isformed through the side of the receptacle, and through this opening thecoal runs onto the chute.

A gate, E, is arranged to close the dischargeopenin The gate is helddown by weights or springs. I prefer to employ a spring, E, as shown,though any counterbalancing force known in mechanics could be employed.The spring is only one of these forces,and I do not limit myself to itsuse. To the framing I hinge the screen-chute I*, which is arranged toreceive the coal as the latter emerges from the receptacle. The chute isprovided with a screen-bottom, F, and it is connected with the gate E bya cord or chain, E, which passes over a pulley, E, journaled in theframing inst above the discharge-opening. Instead of a single cord andchain and a single pulley, two cords or chains and two pulleys could beused. I prefer one of each, and arranged as shown. The spring Eis ofsuch strength that it will hold the gate down and the chute in ahorizontal position. By pulling the outer end of the chute down the gateis raised so that the coal can flow through the discharge-opening.

.Iust below the screen-chute I arrange a return-chute, G, which has theupper side of its outer end made on an incline to permit the pullingdown of the said screen-chute. The inner end is provided with a screen,G arranged over the dust-box C. The dust-box may have drawers in it, orit may be a plain box, from which the dust may be shoveled.

A track, H,i'or the coal-cars can be arranged on the top of thereceptacle, as shown.

I prefer to have the screen chute and gate connected together andsimultaneously operated, as hereinbefore described, but a rope or levercould be secured and used to raise the gate, and a separate weight couldbe attached to the cords which draw up the screen-chute. Thescreen-chute when raised to the horizontal position would prevent thecoal from running out in case the gate was accidentally raised. A smallportion of the coal would run out onto the inner edge of thescreenchute, but not sufficient to depress the latter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is-

1. The combination of a coal-hopper having an inclined bottom and adischargeopeninga vertically-sliding gate to close the dischargeopening,a hinged spring-chute arranged on the outer side of the coalaeceptacleat the lower side of the discharge-opening, a flat spring hearing on theupper edge of the gate, and a cord attached to the chute passing over apul ley and connected to the gate, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination,with the coal-hopper A, having dischargeopening D, ofthe screen F,

hinged to said receptacle below the discharge turn-chute G, andscreen-extension G, forinopening, and the return-chute G, extendingbeing the dust-receptacles G, the parts eonyond the hopper, its innerend, G projected strueted,arranged,and operating substantially beneaththe hopper and forming the dust-box as shown and described. :5 5 G,substantially as shown and described. In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in 3. The combination of the hopper A, havpresence of twowitnesses. ing double-inclined bottom B B,and discharge openings D,trackH, located immediately over BENJAMIN KEPNER" the apex of the bottom,Vertically-sliding doors :0 E, flat spring E, hinged spring-chutesF,eord

E", connecting the latter with the doors, re-

WVitnesses:

MILLER BURKHARDT, THOMAS B. TUCKER.

